Ochai Agbaji is the real deal

Although it’s only been
three games, Ochai Agbaji’s has provided the spark that this year’s KU team was
looking for.

When Bill Self announced that the previously redshirted freshman would be suiting up starting with the January 9 game against TCU, many thought it was just a precautionary measure. Udoka Azubuike had been declared out for the season and it seemed like making Agbaji available was only a depth-saving move. Most were skeptical he’d play big minutes during conference play, let alone contribute during winning time.

However, from the moment
he hit the floor, it was obvious that Agbaji wasn’t wearing a jersey just in
case, he was in the game and playing because he was good, full stop.

Agbaji’s first game for
the Jayhawks put that on full display. He played 25 minutes against a top-25
TCU team, scoring 7 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and bringing instant energy to
the floor.

The next two Big 12
showdowns brought more of the same, and over his first three games Agbaji has
averaged seven points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He’s also
shown some prowess from behind the three-point line, sinking a three in two of
those three games.

Agbaji plays with a
contagious energy, and you can tell that his teammates feel that energy when
he’s in. At the same time, his game has a sense of calm and control, shown by
the fact that Ogbaji still has not recorded a turnover so far.

It’s evident that Self
trusts Ogbaji as well, as he’s played 21 or more minutes in each game,
including big minutes late in close conference games. That level of trust
doesn’t come often for Self, as we’ve seen him pull lower-ranked freshman quickly
and limit their minutes.

Agbaji’s emergence has also
given Self more opportunities to tinker with lineups and not force playing time
on struggling wings. This is evident in how Self has handled Quentin Grimes the
last few games.

The talented freshman has
struggled so far this season, save for a few big games here and there. With
Ogbaji playing so well, Self can pull Grimes for stretches and put in Ogbaji,
giving the Jayhawks more chances to have plus players on the floor.

Ogbaji’s playing time
seems to have had the biggest effect on the minutes of Charlie Moore. Moore has
not looked good all season, and over the last three games he’s played only
four, six, and three minutes, compared to Ogbaji playing 25, 21, and 25 minutes,
respectively. That amount is a huge drop for Moore, as he was averaging over 18
minutes per game in the 14 games before.

The drastic fall in
minutes for Moore accompanied by the large amounts for Ogbaji only reiterates
that he is playing not because Self just needs another body to throw out there,
but because he is a talented player who makes a big impact for this KU team.

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Jackson Hodges

I’ve been a KU fan as long as I can remember, which I chalk up to my love of basketball and the influence of my brothers. I am a graduate of Oklahoma State, but I routinely wore my blue in Gallagher-Iba (yes, I was that guy). I grew up idolizing Wayne Simien and Christian Moody, and I think the post-entry pass is a lost art. I hope you enjoy my work.